Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02692418 2009-12-31
WO 2009/023254 PCT/US2008/009744
CHILD HAIR PROTECTION SYSTEM
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application
60/955,994, filed August 15, 2007 and entitled CHILD HAIR PROTECTION SYSTEM,
the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002) The present invention relates generally to head and hair
coverings and more specifically, to a child liair protection system for
covering a child's
hair during generally messy activities such as self-feeding and play-time.
[0003] During activities, such as self-feeding and play-time, a small
child generally uses their hands and fingers to engage in such activities. In
one known
example, a small child uses their hand and fingers when they are feeding
themselves
food. In another known example, a child uses their hands and fingers to paint
and color
during play-time. As a result, the child's hands and fingers accumulate
substances, such
as food, paint and/or other substances thereon. In the event the child touches
their head
and hair, the substance is transferred from the child's hands to the child's
hair.
Generally, this requires the parent or guardian to clean the child's hair.
Such a process
lengthens the amount of time required for feeding or playing. As a result, the
time and
energy required to feed the child or allow the child to engage in playful
activities is
increased, which decreases the amount of time available to the parent or
guardian for
other activities.
SUMMARY
[0004] In one exemplary enibodiment, a child hair protective system is
provided. The system may include a covering including a front portion; a rear
portion
coupled to the front portion; a side portion extending from at least one of
the front portion
and the rear portion; a cavity defined within the covering; and a strap
portion extending
from each side portion.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be
apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments.
The
following detailed description should be considered in conjunction with the
accompanying figures in which:
[0006] Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a child hair protective
system;
[0007] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a covering that may be used
with the system shown in Figure 1;
[0008] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of
the covering that may be used with the systeni shown in Figure 1; and
[00091 Figure 4 is a front perspective view of the system shown in
Figure 1.
DETAILED DESCIZIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[00101 Aspects of the present invention are disclosed in the following
description and related figures directed to specific embodiments of the
invention. Those
skilled in the art will recognize that alternate embodiments may be devised
without
departing from the spirit or the scope of the claims. Additionally, well-known
elements
of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or
will be
omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.
[0011 ] As used herein, the word "exemplary" means "serving as an
example, instance or illustration." The embodiments described herein are not
limiting,
but rather are exemplary only. It should be understood that the described
embodiment
are not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other
embodiments.
Moreover, the terms "embodiments of the invention", "embodiments" or
"invention" do
not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed
feature, advantage
or mode of operation.
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[0012] Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a child hair protective
system 10. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a covering 12. Figure 3 is a
cross-
sectional view of an alternate embodiment of covering 12. Figure 4 is a front
perspective
view of system 10. In the exemplary embodiment, system 10 includes covering
12,
which may include a front portion 14, a rear portion 16, an upper portion 18,
a first side
portion 20 and a second side portion 22. In one embodiment, front, rear, upper
and side
portions 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 may be integrally formed to define covering 12.
In another
embodiment, front, rear, upper and side portions 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 may be
individually formed and coupled to one another to form covering 12. In the
exemplary
embodiment, a first strap portion 24 and a second strap portion 26 may extend
from first
and second side portions 20 and 22, respectively. In one embodiment, first and
second
strap portions 24 and 26 may be elongated and may extend away from first and
second
side portions 20 and 22, respectively. As a result, first and second strap
portions 24 and
26 may extend such that they are positioned under a child's chin, as described
in more
detail below.
[0013] In the exemplary embodiment, a fastener 28 may be coupled to
each end of first and second strap portions 24 and 26 to facilitate coupling
first and
second strap portions 24 and 26 together. In one embodiment, fastener 28 may
include,
but not limited to, a snap-type fastener, as shown in Figures I and 2. As
shown in Figure
3, a fastener 42 may include a hook and loop attachment. Alternatively,
covering 12 may
include fasteners such as, but not limited to, tie straps, buttons and/or any
other type of
coupling device that enables covering 12 to function as described herein.
[0014] In the exemplary embodiment, a cavity 30 may be defined within
covering 12. Moreover, cavity 30 facilitates receiving a child's head therein,
as described
in more detail below. Covering 12 may also include a first opening 32 defined
by front
portion 14, first and second side portions 20 and 22 and first and second
strap portions 24
and 26. Covering 12 may also include a second opening 34 defined by rear
portion 16
and first and second strap portions 24 and 26. An outer edge material 36 may
be coupled
to covering 12 and may surround first and second openings 32 and 34. In one
embodiment, outer edge material 36 may include, but not limited to, a
resilient material
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and may extend along an edge of covering 12 and more specifically, the outer
edge of
first and second openings 32 and 34. In another embodiment, outer edge
material may be
made of stretchable material.
[0015] In the exemplary embodiment, covering 12 may also include an
inner material 38 and an outer coating 40. In the one embodiment, inner
material 38 may
include, but not limited to, a comfortable and soft material that is oriented
within
covering 12, and more specifically within cavity 30, to facilitate surrounding
a child's
head, as described in more detail below. In another embodiment, inner material
38 may
include, but not limited to, cotton, terry cotton, polyester, polyester knit,
nylon and/or
other soft fabrics. In yet another embodiment, inner material 38 may be made
from a
washable material.
[0016] Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment, outer coating 40 may
be made of a waterproof material such as, but not limited to, urethane and/or
a laminate
coating that enables outer coating 40 to be vviped clean after use and
resistant to liquid.
Moreover, in one embodiment, outer coating 40 may be made of a material that
is
substantially similar to the material of outer material of baby bibs. In the
exemplary
embodiment, outer coating 40 may cover an outer surface (not shown) of inner
material
38 to facilitate preventing food and other substances from coupling to inner
material 38,
and more specifically, a child's head and/or hair.
[0017] In the exemplary embodiment, covering 12 may be made of
material that may be, but not limited to, breathable, waterproof, and/or
stretchable.
Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment, cavering 12 may be resilient to tearing
and/or
deformations, such as but not limited to stretching. In another embodiment,
covering 12
may be disposable.
[0018] In the exemplary embodiment, inner material 38 may be
integrally formed with outer coating 40. As a result, inner material 38 and
outer coating
40 may include, but not limited to, cotton, terry cotton, polyester, polyester
knit, nylon
and/or other soft fabrics. As such, inner material 38 and outer coating 40 may
include a
single material that includes a waterproof barrier coupled to the outer
surface of inner
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material 38. In another embodiment, inner material 38 and outer coating 40 may
include
various other types of materials, such as, but not limited to, GORE-TEX ,
vinyl,
laminate material and/or other various types of durable water-repellent
material.
Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment, ]aminate material may include, but not
limited
to, polyester urethane laminate material, urethane laminate material, and/or
any other
type of laminate material that enables system 10 to function as described
herein.
[0019] During operation, covering 12 may be coupled to a child's head
to facilitate covering the child's hair prior to the child engaging in messy
activities, such
as, but not limited to, meal-time and play-time. Specifically, covering 12 is
oriented on
the child's head such that inner material 38 is in contact with the child's
hair and/or head.
Upper portion 18 facilitates covering a top part of the child's head and rear
portion 16
facilitates covering a back portion of the child's head. Moreover, front
portion 14
facilitates covering the child's forehead anci first and second side portions
20 and 22
facilitate covering the child's ears and sides of face. First and second strap
portions 24
and 26 may extend substantially parallel to the child's jaw such that first
and second strap
portions 24 and 26 are coupled together under the child's chin using fastener
28. As a
result, the child's face may extend through first opening 32 and the child's
neck may
extend through second opening 34.
[0020] Covering 12 facilitates preventing food and other substances
from coupling to a child's hair and/or sides of face. In the event the child
has food and/or
other substances on their hands and touches their head, the food and/or other
substances
will couple to outer coating 40 of covering 12. Moreover, covering 12
facilitates
preventing any liquid from contacting the child's hair.
[0021] Once the child is finished eating and/or playing, covering 12 may
be removed from the child's head. Specifically, fasteners 28 may be uncoupled
to
facilitate uncoupling first and second strap portions 24 and 26. Then covering
12 may be
removed from the child's head. In one embodiment, covering 12 may be wiped
clean
such that covering 12 is ready for another use. In another embodiment,
covering 12 may
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be washed in a washing machine such that covering 12 is ready for another use.
In yet
another embodiment, covering 12 may be disposable.
[0022] The foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate
the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention.
However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the
particular
embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments
discussed
above will beappreciated by those skilled in the art.
[0023] Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded
as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated
that variations
to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing
from the
scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
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